Partition construction



Jan. 6, 1959 J. A. BOHNSACK PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.I

Filed March 15, 1956 INVENTOR. dZfi/i 6. 50/9/7500? I l i 5,-102

ATTORN EYS Jan. 6, 1959 ABOHNSACK 2,867,300

PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Filed'March 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

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134 w -7 jg/ A. fink/750a,? 4 501i LAMA h ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1959 J. A. BOHNSACK 2,867,300

PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Filed March 15, 1956 FIG.|7 FIG.|

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR. 158 Jbfifl A BMnaac/Z BYMW;

ATTORNEY-5 Jan. 6, 1959 Filed March 15, 1956 J. A. BOHNSACK PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N V EN TOR. M757 4 flainsac/f ATTORNEYS Stile assembly;

United States Pfl i i PARTITION CGNSTRUCTION John A. Bohnsack, Pottsville, Pa., assignor to Aetna Steel Products Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 15, 1956, Serial No. 571,712

3 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates generally to a structural assembly and, more particularly, to an interior partition construction constituted by a built-up assembly of structural frame parts and units.

,In heretofore partition constructions of this general character, the post or stile assembly at the edge of a partition panel or at the juncture of a plurality of partition panels was built .up of a plurality of standardized vertical members having panel receiving grooves with the resultant post or stile assembly being cross sectionally of uniform width and depth, this arrangement having the disadvantage of undue post or stile width withits accompanying undesirable aesthetic effects. Pursuant to the present invention this and other disadvantages of heretofore used partition construction of this general character are obviated, and the post or stile assemblies of the present invention are of minimum width and are built up of a plurality of standardized vertical members having panel receiving grooves resulting in an aesthetically desirable slim or slender post or stile construction in which the cross sectional width thereof is substantially less than the cross sectional depth thereof.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a slender post construction of the aforenoted character in which the standardized vertical members may be interchangeably utilized with standardized trim members so that a variety of structural conditions may be satisfield in a simple and facile manner.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of an interior partition construction having slender posts of the aforenoted character which is simple in design and construction, formed of a minimum number of standard parts, easy to erect and disassemble, and which presents a neat and aesthetically attractive appearance.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode now contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a partition construction formed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3;

I Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a clip for securing a trim member or vertical post member to the post or taken on the line 33 of tively,

Patented Jan. 6, 1959 2' a Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a clip for securing a pair of vertical post members in post-defining relation;

Fig-1O is a sectional view, on an. enlarged scale, taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 1-1 is a perspectiveview of a ceiling plate clip; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view showing several of the parts of the top horizontal frame member;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view showing other parts of the top horizontal frame member; Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective'view of the parts of the bottom horizontal frame member; 'f

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of an inner verticalpo's't member formed according to the present invention;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a trim member;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a two-way installation;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing a post in athree-way installation; and g I Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 showing a-ipost' in a four-way installation. if Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a partition assembly 10 in an interior floor to ceiling installation, said assembly comprising a partition frame 12 which supports a suitable panel 11 at the marginal edge portions thereof; The

post in a partition frame 12 comprises apair of laterally spaced vertical posts or stiles 14 having upper and lower hori zontal frame members 16 and 18, respectively, secured thereto and extending therebetween, the upper frame member 16 being secured to the ceiling C and'the lower horizontal frame member 18 being secured to the floor'Fl Each of the posts or stiles 14 are of similar construction and are adapted for a dead end post installation or for a two-way, three-way, or four-way post installation spaced apart parallel relation by means of the clips 24;

The inner and outer post members 20 and 22, respecare of similar construction except that the inner post member is provided with an end 26 for a purpose which will be apparent from the description which follows. Each of the post members, is pro vided with a centrally depressed part 28 which defines a panel receiving groove 30, a marginaledge portion of the panel 11 being adapted to be received in said groove; The basic post structure is thus defined by a pair of post members 20 and 22 which are rigidly held in the" desired spaced apart relation by a series of vertically spaced or staggered-clips 24 (see Fig. 9). -Each of the post members has a pair of vertically extending channels 32 and 34v between the part 28 and the oppoa site side Walls or flanges 36 thereof and each opposite pair of channels 32 and 34 is adapted for the reception of the complementary formed end parts 38 of clip' 2'4 for effecting the detachable securement of the post members. The clip 24 is further provided with a central laterally projecting part 40 which interfits between the oppositely disposed parts 28 and spaces the latter in their desired relation.

or other conduit may be extended therethrough. Each of the inner post members 20 is provided with a pair of horizontal slots 42 adjacent the uppenend there:

or securement. part The clips 24 are disposed in vertically spaced relation in the post so thatan electrical post members.

of jfor purpose to be described hereinafter. The end.

portion 52 of part 26 is narrowed as shown in Fig.

for? a purpose which will be apparent from the descript'on which follows. From the above it will be apparent that post member is of similar construction as companion post member 22 except that post member 20 is additionally provided with horizontal slots 42 and an end part 26, said horizontal slots and said end part providingfor the securement of the post to the horizontal frame members 16 and 18, respectively.

Pursuant to the present invention, the width dimension a of each of the post members 20 and 22 corresponds to thespacirig between the post members and this results in an aesthetically desirable slim or slender post or stile construction in which the cross sectional width thereof is substantially less than the cross sectional depth thereof. The width dimension a of the post members and the spacing therebetween is substantially the minimum attainable in a post construction of this character and in the illus: trated embodiment said width and spacing is of the order of itwo inches, it being understood that this is being given by way of exampleonly and notby way of limitation. Accordingly, the finished post construction is of a width which is substantially equal to the width of the post members resulting in a slim post construction in which the cross sectional width is minimized and is subst' ntially less than the cross sectional depth as will be clearly apparent from Figs. 4 and 17 through 19. In a dead end one-way or two-way post installation, the post assembly is completed by snap engaging a pair of trim members 54 to the assembled post members 20 and 22, said snap interengagement being effectedthrough the intermediation of the series of vertically spaced clips 56 which are spring engaged between the opposite post members. The trim members 54 are channel shaped as shown in Fig. 16 and are of a width corresponding to the width of the post members. Each trim member is provided with longitudinal flanges 55 at the opposite sides thereof which correspond to the flanges 36 of the As will be apparent the trim members 54 impart to the post a neat and finished appearance and conceal the parts disposed within such post. Each of the spring clips 56 is spring biased in position between an opposite pair of post members and the trim members areinterengaged with such clips by snap engaging the trim member flanges 55 over the free end portions 58 of the clips. It will be noted that the trim members 54, when installed on a post, are disposed in flush relation with the post members whereby the finished or assembled post presents a neat and finished appearance. The trim members and additional post members22 are interchangeable on the assembled post members 20 and 22 and each of the trim members may be disengaged from the post and may be replaced by a post member, the latter being snap engaged to the post by means of the spring clips 56. Thus the vertical post members are standardized and are interchangeable with the trim members as described above so that a variety of structural conditions may be satisfied in a simple and facile manner. More particularly, and with reference to Fig. 17, a twoway corner post installation may be effected by removing one trim member and substituting a post member therefor. A three-way post installation is shown in Fig. 18 and corresponds in all respects to the two-way installation of Fig. 17 except that the outer post member is not a dead-end member andis utilized for mounting and vsupporting a companion panel. In the four-way post installation of Fig. 19 a pair of post members have been substituted for the trim members and it will be readily apparent that all of the above post assemblies are of slender construction having a cross sectional width a which is substantially less than the cross sectional depth of the post. Each of the snap-on or additional post 1: members may be readily detached from its', companion post and replaced by a trim member for satisfying other structural conditions as will be evident to those skilled inthe art. While specific types ofclips 24 and 56 have been illustrated and described for performing the aforenoted attaching functions, it will be apparent that any other suitable devices maybe utilized for accomplishing the aforenoted attaching functions. It will be observed that the snap-on post members and interchangeable trim members, when installed on a post, have the longitudinal flanges thereof in flush relation with the outer faces 154 of the post members.

The horizontal upper or ceiling frame member 16comt thereof, said brackets having a pair of laterally spaced projecting fingers 64 which are interengageable in the post slots 42. The fingers 64 are apertured therethrough as indicated at 66 and the member 60 is secured to an opposite pair of posts by inserting the fingers 64 through the slots 42 and driving the wedge elements 68 into the apertures 66 a .sufiicient amount to .provide a rigid assembly. Accordingly, the brackets 62 are utilized for securing the member 60 to an opposite pair of posts through the intermediation of wedge elements 68 which are driven into the apertures 66 and which serve to secure'the fingers 64 to a companion post. The central depressed part 70 of member 60 defines a panel receiving groove for the reception of a marginal edge of panel 11.

The channel member 69 is secured to the central depressed part 70 of member 60 by suitable screws 72 and the opposite ends of said member 69 are slotted as indicatcd at 74 to provide clearance areas for the brackets 62. The flange edges 76 of member 60 and the flanges 78 of member 69 are laterally spaced from each other for the reception of the closure plates 80 which extend fromthe ceiling and which project beyond the flanges 82 of the member 60 (Fig. 5). ,The closure plates 80 close the space betweenthe flanges 78 and the flange edges 76 of the structural member 60. The channel shaped ceiling plate 84 is secured to the ceiling C by the screws 86 whichextend through suitable elongated openings 88 provided in said plate. Each closure plate 80 at one side thereof is provided with a projecting flange 91) which is disposed inabutting relation, and interfits with a companion flange 92 of the ceiling plate 84. The ceiling plate 84 and the closure plates 80 are releasably retained in assembled relation by means of a spaced series of spring clips 94 (see Figs. 10 and 11). The V legs 96 of the clips 94 are spring pressed between the flanges 98 of the ceiling plate 84 and the central tongue 100 of said clips interengage beneath the flanges 90 of the closure plates 80 for retaining the latter in assembled relation with said ceiling plate. It will be noted that adjacent clips 94 are alternately arranged whereby alternate clips secure one closure plate to the ceiling plate with intervening alternate clips securing the opposite closure plate to said ceiling plate. The plates 80 .com pensate for any unevenness or misalignment of the ceiling relativeto the partition in that, as shown in Fig. 5, the closure plates may project beyond the flanges 82 any desired amount, it being evident that said closure plates impart a neat and finished appearance to the frame member 16. The ceiling plate 84 is additionally secured to the post member 22 through the intermediation of the T bracket 102, the latter having a plate 104 engaged in the channel 106 of the ceiling plate and a U-shaped part 1.08.which interfitsin the. channel'30 of post member 22 and which is secured thereto in any suitable manner, for example by means of the screws 110. It will be understood that the U-shaped part 108 is of thin sheet metal construction and is disposed in interfitting relation with channel 30 in such a manner as not to interfere with the reception of a marginal edge portion of a panel 11 therein. The construction of the frame member 18 and the assembly of the latter to the posts will now be described.

The horizontal lower or floor frame member 18 comprises a frame member 112 which is channel-shaped and Which is provided with projecting end flanges 114 which extend through the slots 46 at the bottom of each ofthe posts. The projecting end flanges 114 rest on edges 50 of the end parts 26 of the inner post members and the lower edge 48 of said inner post members is substantially flush with the upper surface 118 of the member 112 (see Fig. 3). The depending parts 120 of member 112 are struck out from the latter and are apertured therethrough as indicated at 122 for the reception of the rod 124 which is threaded at its opposite ends as indicated at 126, said threaded end portions extending through the apertures 128 of parts 26 and having nuts 130 threaded thereon for rigidly securing the member 112 to a companion pair of post members 20. Accordingly, the rod 124 and the nuts 130 provide for the rigid detachable assembly of the horizontal channel member 112 to the inner post members 20. The channel member 132 of the frame member 18 is secured to the floor F by means of screws 134. The closure plates 136 are detachably mounted to the opposite flanges 138 of member 112 by means of the screws 140 as shown in Fig. 7, the flanges 142 of said closure plates defining therebetween, in cooperation with the member 112, a panel receiving groove 144. Thus when the closure plates 136 are disposed in assembled relation with the member 112, the upper surface of the latter in conjunction with the spaced flanges 142 of the closure plates defines a channel 144 for the reception of a companion marginal edge of the panel 11. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the closure plates 136 are assembled to the member 112 subsequent to the installation of the panel 11 in the frame 12. The end portions 146 of the closure plates 136 overlap the flanges 148 of parts 26 and interfit with the lower end of the post members 20. The lower edge of the closure plates 136 is of doubled over construction as indicated at 150 and said lower edge is disposed adjacent to the flanges 148 at the narrowed portions 52 of parts 26 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The mode of erection and disassembly of the component parts and units aforedescribed is believed to be clearly apparent from the above description and it will also be apparent that the partition construction is assembled from standardized units and standardized vertical post members which are interchangeable with trim members in the manner described above so that a variety of structural conditions may be satisfied in a simple and facile manner and by the use of standardized interchangeable parts. Any desired panel may be supported at its marginal edges by means of the structural frame 12 and in the illustrated embodiment said panel is constituted by a glass panel in which putty or any suitable strip material is disposed in the panel receiving grooves for securing the panel therein. The various frame components described above are of any suitable metallic construction and it will be observed that the post assemblies are defined by flush exterior surfaces and that such assemblies are of minimum width a which is substantially less than the cross sectional depth thereof. It will be observed that the opposite exterior flange surfaces 152 of the trim members are disposed in flush relation with the outer faces 154 of the main structural members 20 and 22 of the post and that similarly the opposite exterior flange surfaces 156 of the snap-on post members, which are interchangeable with the trim members, are disposed in flush relation;

with said outer faces 154. The clips 24 are provided witli spaced projections 158 which cooperate with the tie pressed parts 28 of the snap-on post members for in suring the correct alignment of the latter on the post.

While I have shown and described the preferred e'n'1. bodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I I

1. In a partition construction, a post assembly com: prising a pair of post members disposed in spaced apart confronting disposition, panel receiving grooves extending along said post members inwardly of the outer faces thereof, and a plurality of clips spaced longitudinally of said post members retaining the latter in fixed spaced apart confronting disposition, said post member spacing between the outer faces thereof substantially corresponding to the width thereof whereby an additional post member or trim member of corresponding width interchangeable therewith may be secured in abutting relation to said pair of post members transversely of the latter with the opposite side edges of said additional post member or trim member being in flush relation with said outer faces of said pair of post members, each of said post members having a recessed central portion extending therealong and defining said grooves, and longitudinal flanges at the opposite sides thereof defining the width dimension of said post members, said additional post member or'trim member having longitudinal flanges at the opposite sides thereof corresponding to said post member flanges, said additional post member or trim member having the flanges thereof in said flush relation with said outer faces of said pair of post members when secured to the latter.

2. In a partition construction, a post assembly comprising a pair of post members disposed in spaced apart confronting disposition, panel receiving grooves extending along said post members inwardly of the outer faces thereof, and a plurality of clips spaced longitudinally of said post members retaining the latter in fixed spaced apart confronting disposition, said post member spacing between the outer faces thereof substantially corresponding to the width thereof whereby an additional post member or trim member of corresponding width interchangeable therewith may be secured in abutting relation to said pair of post members transversely of the latter with the opposite side edges of said additional post member or trim member being in flush relation with said outer faces of said pair of post members, each of said post members having a recessed central portion extending therealong and defining said grooves, and longitudinal flanges at the opposite sides thereof defining the width dimension of said post members, said additional post member or trim mem ber having longitudinal flanges at the opposite sides thereof corresponding to said post member flanges, said additional post member or trim member having the flanges thereof in said flush relation with said outer faces of said pair of post members when secured to the latter, said recessed central portion and said flanges on said pair of post members defining therebetween channels for the reception of said retaining clips.

3. In a partition construction, a post assembly comprising a pair of post members disposed in spaced apart confronting disposition, panel receiving grooves extending along said post members inwardly of the outer faces thereof, and a plurality of clips spaced longitudinally of said post members retaining the latter in fixed spaced apart confronting disposition, said post member spacing between the outer faces thereof substantially corresponding to the width thereof whereby an additional post member of trim member of corresponding width interchangeable therewith may be secured in abutting relation to said pair of post members transversely of the latter with the opposite side edges of said additional post member or trim member being in flush relation with said outer faces of said pair of post members, each of said. post members hailing a recessed central portion extending therealong and defining said grooves, and longitudinal flanges at the opposite sides thereof defining the width dimension of said post members, said additional post member or trim member having longitudinal flanges at the opposite sides thereof corresponding to said post member flanges, said additional post member or trim member having the flanges thereof in said flush relation with said outer faces of said pair of post members when secured to the latter, said recessed central portion and said flanges on said pair ofpost members defining therebetween channels for the reception of said retaining clips, s aidretaining clips being resilient and secured in oppositely disposed channels of said pair of post members for retaining the latter in said parallel space apart relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,859 Poulson et'al. June 6, 1893 1,951,778 Snead Mar. 20, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,074 Great Britain Aug. 14, 1939 

